Can opener



CAN OPENER Fi1ed May 11, 1940 '2 sheetssheet 1 April 7, 1942- l.. oLsCHl-:WsKl 2,278,731`

CAN OPENER Filed May 11, 1940 2 sheets-sheet 2 53 6 3o Y I, Z0 3/ 32 ZZ 2/ /7 25 /8 I. /7 ze 24 l 25@ d/L// 34- 7 f 42 37 Y 6 f Z9/2 3/ /4 f- 40 i 1 ,63 66 l v *E In?,

. l n 6/ 55 I 5 7 62 543 ,ml 6 Y INVENTOR Patented Apr. 7, 1942 I CAN OPENER Leo Olschewski, Rahway, N. J., assignor to The Regina Corporation, Rahway, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 11, 194,0, Serial No. 334,475

15 Claims. (Cl. 30-9) This invention'relates to new and useful improvements in can openers, and has particular relation to certain improvements in the type of can opener disclosed and claimed in my Patent Number 1,999,370, dated April 30, 1935.

An object of the invention is to provide a can opener of the kind indicated with an improved feeding or propelling means for revolving the cans to be opened, and which means is adapted to cooperate with and automatically accommodate itself to can seams and flanges of different .heights and widths or thicknesses, and thus adjust itself to all kinds of beads and cans, so as to give a more positive and reliable feed.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein a satisfactory lembodiment of the invention is shown. However, it is to be understood that the invention v is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modications as fall within the scope of the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevationalview showing a can n opener made in accordance with the invention, the dotted lines suggesting the position of a can being opened;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view showing the operating parts of the opener and their relation to a can being opened but before being set to cutting position;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view showing said operating parts corresponding to Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken as along the plane of the line 4 4 of Fig. 2; y

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken as along the plane of the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken as along the plane of the line E-G of Fig. 2; y

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view partly in elevation and partly in section illustrating the cooperation between the cutter element employed .and the can feeding or propelling means, in the operation of removing the top from a can;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged front elevational view of one element of the can feeding or propelling means;

Fig. 91s a side elevational View thereof on the same scale;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged edge elevational View of the other element of the can feeding or propelling means; and

Referring in detail to the drawings, the can opener of the invention is shown as constructed for mounting on a wall or other vertical support,

although as the description proceeds it will become apparent that I am not limited to the specific mountingfor the opener shown in the present case. As shown the opener includes a mounting bracket I0 having at its rear end a platelike portion II adapted to be secured by screws or other suitable means directly to a wall or the like, or it may b-e removablyheld by any suitable fastening or mounting means (not/shown).

An enlargement on the upper side of the bracket toward the forward end thereofA includes outer portions I2' and I3 andlan intermediate portion I4. These portions extend transversely of the bracket, and while shown as formed integraltherewith, may be formed separately therefrom and secured thereto if so desired. A pin I5 extending between the enlargement portions Y I2 and I3 .and overv the portion I4 pivotally mounts a-housing I6 for limitedvertical oscillatory movement relative to the bracket.

Extending through the housing I5 is Ia shaft I'I including a portion I 8 of enlarged diameter forming a shoulder I9. v Located within the housing and about va portion of the shaft I'Iv and bearing at one end against the housingand at its other end against the shoulder I9, is a coil spring 20 the tendency of which is to urge the shaft forwardly out -of the housing. `Shaft portion I8 has a longitudinally extending slot 2I therein and into which projects a lugr 22 carried by the housing, .whereby while. the shaft may have movement longitudinally of the housing it may not turn therein. f A head 23 on the forward end'of the shaft I8 has its forward face 24 inclined, andagainst said face'issecured a cutter element 25. 'The element 25 is mountedto rotate relative to the y shaft and may be secured in place as by means of the headed fastener 25. Cutter 25 includes a portion 21 arranged substantially vertically when the lcutter is in use and located against the inner surface of `the upper end flange of the can, the head of which is to be removed. Also such cutter includes a surface portion 28 located substantially horizontally when the machine is being used and engaging the upper edge ofthe ange of the can being operated upon.

In the rear end portion of the housing I5 is formed a pair of cam surfaces 29, such surfaces being preferably located directly opposite one another. Mounted for turning movement about the rear portion of the shaft I'I is a sleeve 30 having at its forward end a pair of linger-like portionsor members 3| located directly opposite one another for cooperation with the cam surfaces 29. A nut 32 threaded onto the outer end of the shaft I1 acting through a washer 33 clamps a cam means 34 against the outer end portion of the sleeve 3Q to which it is keyed for turning' movements therewith. Secured to or formed with the inner end portion of the sleeve is a lever-like handle 35 adapted for manual manipulation to impart an oscillatory or turning movement to the sleeve.

At its rear end the intermediate enlargement I4 is laterally expanded to each sideof its longitudinal axis providing a portion 36` located below the rear or outer end portion of the sleeve 35. A strap 31 has one end secured tothe enlargement 36 as by a pin 38 which may have a drive ilt in an opening in the enlargement, and such strap extends across the enlargement below the outer end of the sleeve.30 and has its other end 37a passing beneath ka bridge-like piece 39 whereby upward movement of such end of the strap under the influence of a coil spring 40 is limited. Spring 40 is located partly in a .socket 4| provided in the enlargement, and at its upper end bears against the free end of the strap whereby to normally keep such end against the bridge, and whereby to return such end to said position when moved therefrom as may occur in the use of the opener. Strap 31'has its' intermediate portion bent upwardly as shown at 42a providing a cam surface 42 the purpose of whichr will appear.

Mounted by the outer portions I2 and I3 of the enlargement on the upper side of the forward end portion of the bracket I are similar means for carrying guide rollers for the can to be opened CII each comprising a shaft 43 longitudinally movv able relative to the said portions I2 and I3 respectively. The shafts 43 project through the portions mounting them, and at their forward ends include enlargements 44 closing the forward ends of. sockets 45 containing coil springs 46 bearing at their respective ends against the inner ends. of said sockets and against the shoulders 41 formed at the inner ends of such enlargements. The tendency of the springs is to project the shafts forwardly out of the sockets.

tions of theshafts extendA into slots 49 provided in the portions I2 and I3 and serve to limit forward movements of the shafts, and also being located in the narrow slots 48 prevent turning movement of the shafts relative to the said pori tions I2 and I3.

At their forward ends the shafts carry substantially U-shaped mounting members 5I) each between its upper and lower arms 5I and 52 mounting a stud or shaft 53 on which is turnably disposed a roller 54. The side walls of these rollers are reduced as shown at 54a to clear the feed wheel 5l, and each roller has a groove 54h adjacent its upper end to accommodate the bead 65a on the outer side of the iiange 65 of the can 64. The upper arms 5I of the U-shaped members 5D extend forwardly of the lower arms thereof and of the rollers and in the use of the opener act as guides as will appear.

Mounted in and extending through the intermediate portion I4 of the enlargement on the upper side of theforward portion of the bracket I0 is a shaft 55 (see particularly Fig. 5). On the forward end of shaft 55 is a propelling means for rotating the can the head of which is to be re- However, pins 48 passing through the inner end pore moved. Such propelling means includes a wheel 55 toothed about its periphery and a cup-like device or auxiliary wheel 51 toothed on its forward open end. Wheel 56 is arranged with end face opposed to the side wall of a can which is to have its head removed and the wheel is fixed to the shaft 55. 'Ihe cup-like device or auxiliary wheel 5'! is so disposed that itstoothed end faces the can mentioned, and such device is not fixed to the shaft 55 but although it is connected thereto to rotate with the shaft it is adapted to move slightly in the direction of the length of the shaft as will appear. It will be seen from Figs. 5 and 'l that the wheels are mounted so that the toothed periphery of the wheel 55 engages the free inner or lower edge of the bead of the flange while the cup-like auxiliary wheel 5l embraces the wheel 55 and has a toothed periphery or toothed flange 5laadjacent the periphery of the wheel 56 and arranged to engage the outer side surface of the bead 55a of the flange 55.

Passing through the shaft 55 immediately in the rear of the wheel 55 is a pin 58. The device 5'1- at opposite sides of its central shaft receiving opening 59 is provided with notches 65a adapted when the device is on the shaft to receive the projecting ends of the pin 58 whereby the device is keyed to the shaft for turning movement therewith but'is free to move longitudinally of the shaft. Partially received in a socket 60 in the forward end of portion I4 is a coil spring 6I bearing at one end against the rear side of the cuplike device or auxiliary wheel 51 and serving to yieldingly force it toward the wheel 56 and when not in use to maintain it against the rear side of the wheel 56.

With the described construction it will be clear that the cup-like device may yield in a direction to move it rearwardly from its foremost position with its closed side against the rear side of the wheel 55. In this connection it is noted that the key or pin 58 having its ends located in the notches a in the device 57 serves to establish a driving connection between the shaft and the device'or auxiliary wheel to rotate it. A cranklike handle 52 is secured to the rear or inner end of the shaft 55 as by means of' set screw 63 or by any other desired means, and is adapted tobe manually rotated to cause rotation of the propelling means above described.

In the operation of the opener, assuming that the parts are positioned as in Figs. l, 2 and 3 the lever 35 is in a position extending rearwardly over the bracket I5 and the ngers 3l are within the slots resulting from the formation of the cam surfaces 29. This means that the cutter 25 is in its forward or foremost position. Now the can to be opened, as the canV 64, is placed with its upper end portion against the guide rollers 54, by inserting its flange 65 between the cutter 25 and the rollers 54 and against the undersides of the arms 5| of the U-shaped members 5I).

At this time the cutter is in its normal or released position and the bead 65a of the flange 55 lis in the grooves 545 of the rollers 54. The outer surface of this bead is against the teeth on the cup-like device or auxiliary wheel 51 and the lower edge of the said flange is in engagement with the teeth of the wheel 56. Now the lever 35 is swung forwardly imparting a rotary move- 'ment to the sleeve 50. As the sleeve is turned its fingers 3l ride against the cam surfaces 29 on the housing I5 with the result that the sleeve is forced toward the right in Figs. 2 and 3, and being connected to act against the nut 32 on the shaft l1, the latter is moved with the sleeve drawfing the cutter 25 toward and against the inner Iside oi the can flange 65.

As the sleeve is turned in the manner indicated -=the cam 34 is carried with it and also turns with the sleeve (and may in fact be integral with the sleeve) and as the sleeve turns the said cam rides onto the cam surface or raised portion 42 of the strap 31 and slightly tilts the housing I6 on the pin l to lower the cutter toward or against the head 66 of the can 64. As the sleeve reaches the limit of its movement toward the right the high portion of cam 34 rides onto the raised portion or cam 42 and causes a substantial tilt of the housing I6 whereby the cutter is lowered to the inner side of the can ange 55 and (see Fig. '1) is forced through so as to pierce the can head. These movements of the cutter draw the can flange against the teeth of the wheel 5B and the 1 'cup-like device or auxiliary wheel 51 of the can propelling means, and also against the rollers 54. During this motion of the cutter its portion 2S engages the upper edge of the flange 65 and causes the lower edge of such ange to tightly engage the teeth of the wheel 56 of the can propelling means. Now the can is clamped in place by the cutter ready for the operation of cutting out its head or top.

To remove the can head it is now but necessary to rotate the crank-like handle 62. This results in rotation of the can propelling means 56, 51 at the end of the shaft 55 and the teeth of such means being in engagement with the side and the lower edge of the can flange the said can is rotated under the cutter. Since the latter has pierced the can head and is being held down as the can is revolved the head will be cut therefrom.

The cup-like device 51 of the can propelling means being mounted as above described it will yield relative to the wheel 56 when the can flange is pressed against it and thus thegopener is adapted to receive cans having flanges of differ- `ent thicknesses. It will also automatically adjust itself to variations in the thickness of the flange and its bead 55a during the feeding and cutting operation so as to insure a uniform and effective gripping and feeding of the ange under all con- 'ditions The strap 31 through the cam 34 will maintain the wall 28 of the cutter against the top edge of the flange and press the lower edge of the bead against the wheel 55, and it may also'yield. Thus this feed also automatically adjustsitself for variations in the width or height of the flange and its bead. When the head has been cut from the can the lever is swung back to normal position and the cutter thus removed from the can flange whereby the can is released fromthe opener. The rollers 54 and their mountings serve the purpose outlined in my patent above identified of independently moving in and out to enable the opener to run around short bends or along straight sides so the cutter can be used in the removing of the heads of cans which are rectangular, circular, oval, or any of the standard shapes.

I claim: l. In a can opener, a propelling means includ ing a wheel having a toothed periphery, and a cup-like device having a toothed end, means mounting said wheel with its end face opposed to the side wall of the can and with its toothed periphery located to engage an edge of the can flange at the outer side of the can, means mounting said cup-like device with its toothed end disposed to engage the outer side of the can flange,

said last means including spring means whereby the cup-like device may be moved toward and from the said side wall oi the can for cooperation with anges of different thicknesses and whereby said device is yieldingly maintained in position with its teeth pressed against the edge of the flange of the can presented to the opener, means for operating said propelling means to revolve the can, and a cutter adapted to Ilie inside the can flange in position to cut the head of the can adjacent the flange as the can is revolved.'

` 2. In a can opener, a propelling means including a wheel having a toothed periphery, means mounting said wheel with its end face opposed to the side wall of the `can and with its toothed periphery located to engage an edge of the can flange at the outside of the can, said means including a spring whereby the wheel may move toward and from the side wall of the can for cooperation with flanges of different thicknesses and whereby said wheel is yieldingly maintained with its teeth pressed against the edge of the flange of a can presented to the opener, means for operating said propelling means to revolve the can, a support, a shaft carried by said support and adapted to be shifted in the direction of its length, a cutter carried by said shaft and arranged to lie inside the flange of the can, said cutter adapted to hold said flange against said wheel and cam means for moving said shaft axially to move the cutter toward said wheel whereby to draw said can flange against said wheel.

3. In a can opener, a propelling means including a cup-like device having a toothed end, means mounting said cup-like device with its toothed end disposed to engage the outside of the can flange, said means including a spring whereby the cup-like device may move toward'and from said side wall of the can for cooperation with flanges of different thicknesses and whereby said.

device is yieldingly maintained with its teeth pressedr against the edge of the flange of a can presented to the opener, means for operating said propelling means to revolve the can, a support, a shaft carried by said support and adapted to be shifted in the direction of its length, a cutter carried by said shaft and arranged to lie inside the flange of the can, said cutter adapted to hold said flange against said toothed end of said cuplike device, and cam means for moving said shaft axially to move the cutter toward said toothed end of said device whereby to draw said lcan flange against said toothed end.

4. In a can opener, a propelling means including a wheel having a toothed periphery and a cup-like device having a toothed end, means mounting said wheel with its end face opposed to the side wall of the lcan and with its toothed periphery located to engage an edge of the can flange at the outside of the can, means mounting said cup-like device with its toothed end disposed to engage the outside of the can flange, said last means including a spring whereby the cup-like device may move toward and from said side wall of the can for cooperation with flanges of different thicknesses and whereby said device is yieldingly maintained with its teeth pressed against the edge of the flange of a can presented to the opener, means for operating said propelling means to revolve the can, a support, a shaft carried by said support and `adapted to be shifted in the direction of its length, a cutter carried by said shaft and arranged to lie inside the ange of the can, said cutter adapted to hold said flange against said toothed end of said cup-like device, and cam means for moving said shaft axially to move the cutter toward said toothed end of said device whereby to draw said can flange against said toothed end.

5. In a can opener, a propelling means including a wheel having a toothed periphery, means mounting said wheel with its free end opposed to the side -wall of the can and with its toothed periphery located to engage Van edge of the can flange at the outside of the can, said means including spring means whereby the wheel may move toward and from the side wall of the can for cooperation with flanges of different thicknesses and whereby said wheel is yieldingly maintained in position with its teeth pressed yagainst the edge of the flange of the can presented to the opener, means for operating said propelling means to revolve the can, a cutter arranged to lie inside the flange of the can and to hold the f said flange against said wheel, and means for moving said cutter toward the Wheel whereby to have the cutter draw the flange against said wheel.

6. In a can opener, a propelling means including a `cup-like device having a toothed end, means mounting said cup-like device with its toothed end disposed to engage the outside of the can flange, said means including spring means whereby the cup-like device may move toward and from the said side wall of the can for cooperation with flanges of d'nerent thicknesses and Where- -by said device is yieldingly maintained in position with its teeth pressed against the edge of the flange of the can presented to the opener, means for operating said propelling means to revolve the can, a cutter arranged to lie inside the flange of the can and to hold the said flange against said toothed end of said device, and means for moving said cutter toward the toothed end of said device whereby to have the cutter draw the flange against said toothed end.

7. In a can opener, a propelling means including a wheel having a toothed periphery and a cup-like device having a toothed end, means mounting said wheel with its free end opposed to the side wall of the can and With its toothed periphery located to engage an edge of the can flange at the outside of the can, means mounting said cup-like device with its toothed end disposed to engage the outside of the can flange, said last means including spring means whereby the cuplike device may move toward and from the said side wall of the can for cooperation with flanges of different thicknesses and whereby said devi-ce is yieldingly maintained in vposition with its teeth pressed against the edge of the flange of the can presented to the opener, means for operating said propelling means to revolve the can, a cutter arranged to lie inside the flange of the can and to hold the said flange against said toothed end of said device, and means for moving said cutter toward the toothed end of said device whereby to have the cutter draw the flange against said toothed end.

8. In a lcan opener, a propelling means including a wheel having a toothed periphery, means mounting said wheel with its end face opposed to a side wall of the can and with its toothed periphery located to engage an edge of the can flange at the outer side of the can, said means including spring means whereby wheel may move toward and from the side wall of the can for cooperation with flanges of dillerent thicknesses and whereby said Wheel is yieldingly maintained in position with its teeth pressed against the edge of the flange of the can presented to the opener, means for operating said propelling means to revolve thecan, a cutter adapted to lie inside the flange of the can in position to cut the head of the can adjacent the flange as the can is revolved, and spring pressed plungers arranged before and behind the point of cutting and adapted to press the can in opposition to said cutter.

9. In a can opener, a propelling means including a cup-like device having va toothed end, means mounting said cup-like device with its toothed end disposed to engage the outside of the can flange, said means including spring means Whereby the cup-like device may move toward and from the said side wall fof the can for cooperation with flanges of different thicknesses and whereby said device lis yieldingly maintained in position with its teeth pressed against the edge' ofl the flange of the can presented to the opener, means for operating said propelling means to revolve the can, a cutter adapted to lie inside the flange of vthe can in position `to cut the head of the can adjacent the flange as .the can is revolved, and spring pressed pl-ungers arranged before and behind the point of cutting and adapted to 4press the can in opposition to said cutter.

10. In a can opener, a propelling means including a wheel having a toothed periphery and a cup-like device having a toothed end, means mounting said wheel with its end face opposed to a side wall of the can and With its toothed Iperiphery located to engage an edge of the can flange at the outer side of the can, means mounting said Acup-like device with its toothed end disposed to engage the outside of the can flange, said last means including spring 'means whereby the cup-like device may move toward and from the said side wall-of the can for cooperation with ilanges of different thicknesses and whereby said device is yieldingly maintained in position with its teeth `pressed against the edge of the flange of the can presented tothe opener, means for operating said propelling means to revolve the can, a cutter adapted to lie inside the flange of the can in position to cut the head of the can adjacent the flange as the can is revolved, yand spring pressed plungers arranged before and behind the point of cutting and adapted to press the can in opposition to said cutter.

11. In a can opener, a can propelling means adapted to engage a flange of a can to revolve the latter, an oscillatable support, a cutter carried by said support and arranged to lie inside the flange of a can, a cam means for rocking said support to cause the cutter to pierce the head of the can, a means against which said cam acts to cause said rocking of the support, said means including a movable strap secured at one end and extending from its secured end for engagement by the cam, and a spring under the other end portion of said strap and yieldingly supporting the latter.

12. In a can opener, a propelling means including a cup-like device having a toothed end, means mounting said device with its toothed end disposed to engage the outside of the flange of a can, said last means including spring means whereby the device may move toward and from said side of the can flange for cooperation with flanges of different thicknesses and whereby said device is yieldingly maintained in position with its teeth pressed against the flange of the can presented to the opener, means for operating said propelling means to revolve the can. and a cutter adapted to lie inside the can flange in position to cut the head of the can adjacent the ange as the can is revolved.

13. In a can opener, a propelling means comprising a toothed wheel to engage the edge of the outside flange on a can, an auxiliary wheel adjacent the first wheel having a toothed periphery to engage the outer side wall of the ange, means to rotate said wheels to revolve the can, said auxiliary wheel being mounted to yield laterally with respect to said liange independently of the rst wheel to adjust itself with respect to variations in the flange, and a cutter located at the inside of the flange to cut the head of the can as the can is rotated.

14. In a can opener, a cutter `adapted to be located at the inside of the ange on a can to cut the head of the can, a propelling means comprising a toothed wheel to engage the free edge of the ange on the outside of the can `and `an auxiliary toothed wheel to engage the outer surface of said ange, said auxiliary wheel being 20 ment between the cutter mounted to yield laterally from the flange independently of the rst wheel, resilient means tending to press the auxiliary wheel against the ange, and means for rotating said Wheel to cause relative turning movements between the can and the cutter.

15. In a can opener, a propelling means including a wheelv having a toothed periphery to engage the edge of a flange on a can and an auxiliary cup-like wheel embracing the first Wheel and having a toothed periphery to engage the outer side wall of the ange, a cutter opposed to said wheels and located atthe inner side of the flange to cut the end of the can, said auxiliary wheel being mounted so as to be capable of yielding laterally away from the flange independently of the iirst wheel, a spring tending to press the auxiliary wheel against the flange, and means to rotate the wheels to cause relative turning moveand the can.

LEO OLSCI-IEWSKI. 

